North Carolina bill advances; would ease length restrictions on some roads

| Monday, June 30, 2008

A bill moving through the North Carolina House would allow longer tractor-trailers on more roads throughout the state. The state’s Senate has already approved it.

State law now allows 53-foot trailers on 5,600 miles of interstates and designated highways. Trucks are limited to 48-foot trailers on all other roadways.

The House Transportation Committee voted to advance a bill that would increase the length of trailers allowed on the state’s primary roads to 53 feet. From the main roads, trucks would be allowed to travel up to three miles on their tributaries.

Longer trucks would be allowed on 20,000 miles of roads.

Advocates for the change say it would bring the state’s “antiquated” law up to date with the standard length of trailers in the trucking industry. Others say the current size restrictions make it nearly impossible to make deliveries and pickups at businesses without risking tickets.

Critics, including the state Highway Patrol, say they are concerned about how many wrecks would result from lifting restrictions on tractor-trailers.

To address those concerns, the House committee amended the bill to make it easier for the North Carolina Department of Transportation to place restrictions on certain sections of roads if it found that they were particularly dangerous, the Winston-Salem Journal reported.

The DOT would be allowed to close routes to trucks after a safety study and a written report to lawmakers.

Another provision in the bill from Sen. Clark Jenkins, D-Edgecombe, would allow cotton trucks to weigh up to 50,000 pounds on roads built only for lighter vehicles. Those trucks now are limited to 44,000 pounds.

The exception would be applied annually from Sept. 1 to March 1.

The bill – SB1695 – has moved to the House Finance Committee. If approved in the House, it would head back to the Senate for consideration of changes before it could go to the governor.

To view other legislative activities of interest for North Carolina in 2008, click here.